This document discusses barriers that impede the progress and participation of Hispanic American students in mathematics and science education, and recommends extensive educational reforms. Following an introduction, the first of two main sections reviews the current Hispanic American underrepresentation in mathematics and science and describes…

This report evaluates the Chapter I Take-Home Computer (THC) Program established in five elementary schools and four middle schools in academic year 1990-91 in the Atlanta (Georgia) Public Schools. The program involved sending 180 computers home for 6-week periods only with those students who had parents who were willing to attend a meeting and…

This report, the second of two published to date, provides the most current information on progress made toward realizing the six national education goals adopted by the nation's governors and President Bush at an educational summit held in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1989. The goals established a framework for action in terms of readiness for…

In 1990-91, 20 countries (Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Korea, Mozambique, Portugal, Scotland, Slovenia, Soviet Union, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United States) surveyed the mathematics and science performance of 13-year-old students (and 14 countries also assessed 9-year-olds in the same…

This paper reports the results of a study of changes in the social distribution of mathematics achievement for a cohort of public high school students. Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) the study sought to identify school characteristics which were significantly correlated with changes in achievement differences from grade 9 to grade 11…

This document summarizes "Mathematics Counts," the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the Teaching of Mathematics in Schools in Great Britain, chaired by Dr. W. H. Cockcroft. It provides a digest of the report, paralleling the following chapters: (1) why teach mathematics? (2) the mathematical needs of adult life, (3) the…

A committee composed of students, parents, teachers, administrators, college/university persons, and representatives from business and industry carefully studied the mathematics curriculum in North Carolina public schools and formulated the recommendations contained in this report. It contains ideas, suggestions, and information resulting from…

Graphing calculators have been used in the mathematics classroom for speed, to leap hurdles, to make connections among representations, and to permit realism through the use of authentic data. In this study, a graphing calculator tutorial provided on the Casio FX1.0 and FX2.0 PLUS models was found to serve a fifth purpose, improving manipulative…

Results of the administration of the Nevada Proficiency Examination Program in 1988-89 are presented. The program, established by legislation in 1977 and amended in 1983 and 1987, provided for the administration of examinations of proficiency and achievement in reading, writing, and mathematics before the completion of grades 3, 6, 9, and 12. It…

Descriptive statistics and associated analysis on American eighth graders are presented based on data from the 1988 National Education Longitudinal Study. The study will be repeated with the same cohort at 2-year intervals. Study variables cover attitudes, school performance, and activities of the eighth-grade students. In addition to direct…

In mathematics, Canadian students perform poorly, and enrollment in Canadian postsecondary institutions is low, particularly for women. Clearly, there is a need to understand the personal and social factors that influence mathematics achievement and academic choices. A. Bandura's self-efficacy theory (1977, 1982) implies that academic choices are…

Reasons for poor performance in mathematics by students in the United States are discussed. According to the authors, too many students never experience arithmetic at a physical, concrete level. Students are drilled in arithmetic facts without any meaningful context and are given few opportunities to use numerical concepts in real-life…

An evaluation of the Astor Program for Gifted Children, introduced in 1973, in the New York City public schools is presented. This study is a follow-up of the "pioneer" pupils (those accepted during 1974-76). Sources of data included: a student questionnaire; student attitude scales; a parent questionnaire; a principal questionnaire; a…

In an effort to help determine the processes underlying the acquisition of various mathematical skills, this study examines some of the effects of computer based instruction on achievement in mathematics. The research reported in this document is based on the following questions: (1) what is the relationship between such attributes as sex,…

In 1985, reading and mathematics achievement tests were administered to nearly 15,000 fourth and eighth graders in Alaska. Educators comprising the Interpretive Panel developed a minimum and a desired level of performance. Scores below the minimum indicated a weakness; scores above it, a strength, and scores between, satisfactory achievement. The…